A battery mounting arrangement and a vehicle

ABSTRACT

Aspects of the present disclosure relate to a battery mounting arrangement for a vehicle and to a vehicle. The battery mounting arrangement comprises a first supporting structure, a second supporting structure and at least one battery cell container. The at least one battery cell container is supported by both the first supporting structure and the second supporting structure, and the at least one battery cell container has a first end face facing the first supporting structure and a second end face facing the second supporting structure. The stiffness of the at least one battery cell container compared to the stiffness of the second supporting structure is sufficiently large to enable the second supporting structure to be deformed under a force provided by the at least one battery cell container due to a force applied to the first end face of the at least one battery cell container.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a battery mounting arrangement and avehicle. In particular, but not exclusively it relates to batterymounting arrangement for a road vehicle, such as a car, and to such avehicle.

BACKGROUND

Road vehicles are designed to protect their occupants in the event of acrash. To protect the occupants a vehicle provides a barrier tointrusion by objects impacting against the vehicle. In addition, toprotect the occupants from the most extreme accelerations of theirvehicle that might occur during a crash, vehicles have outer parts,which may be referred to as crumple zones, that are designed to crumpleduring a collision to dissipate energy. For example, the side sills of acar may be designed to deform during a side impact caused by the carsliding sideways into a post. Similarly, beams at the front end or rearend of the car may be designed to crumple, for example, in the event ofthe car running into an object, such as another vehicle, or the carbeing hit from behind by another vehicle.

The batteries of battery electric vehicles are designed such that theyoccupy a relatively large volume in the vehicle in order to provide asmuch electrical storage as possible. However, for safety reasons, thebatteries are also protected by generally not being positioned withinparts of a vehicle designated as crumple zones. Consequently, the spaceavailable for locating batteries is limited, and so the storage capacityis also limited.

In addition, it is known to design battery electric vehicles with verystrong floors in order to provide the required support and protectionfor batteries mounted to the floors. A problem with this is that thebody of such an electric vehicle is then unsuitable for use whenmanufacturing an energy efficient vehicle powered by an internalcombustion engine, because a vehicle powered by an internal combustionengine may be produced with a much lighter floor panel. If amanufacturer wishes to produce both battery electric vehicles andvehicles powered by internal combustion engines, it is thereforegenerally necessary for the manufacturer to create vehicle bodies thatare specific to each of those vehicle types.

It is an aim of the present disclosure to address one or more of thedisadvantages associated with the prior art.

SUMMARY

Aspects and embodiments of the disclosure provide a battery mountingarrangement for a vehicle, and a vehicle.

According to an aspect of the disclosure there is provided a batterymounting arrangement for a vehicle comprising: a first supportingstructure; a second supporting structure; and at least one battery cellcontainer supported by both the first supporting structure and thesecond supporting structure, and the at least one battery cell containerhaving a first end facing the first supporting structure and a secondend facing the second supporting structure; wherein stiffness of the atleast one battery cell container compared to the stiffness of the secondsupporting structure is sufficiently large to enable the secondsupporting structure to be deformed under a force provided by the atleast one battery cell container due to a force applied to the first endof the at least one battery cell container.

If the battery mounting arrangement is used in a vehicle, the batterycell container provides protection for battery cells located within it,in the event of a collision in which a force is applied to the first endface. This enables the first end face to be located within a crumplezone of the vehicle, and so the spatial volume of the battery and itselectrical storage capacity may be larger than they otherwise could be.In addition, because the battery mounting arrangement provides therequired protection to the battery cells, it may be used to produce abattery electric vehicle from a vehicle body designed for use in avehicle powered by an internal combustion engine.

Optionally, the first supporting structure extends in a first direction,the second supporting structure extends substantially parallel to thefirst supporting structure, and the at least one battery cell containerextends in a direction from its first end to its second end in a seconddirection substantially perpendicular to the first direction. Thebattery cell container may be mounted from structures such as beams thatare present in the body of the vehicle.

Optionally, the first direction is along the length of the vehicle. Thefirst end face of the battery cell container may be positioned within acrumple zone towards the front end of the vehicle, such as in acompartment occupied by the electric motor of the vehicle, or it may belocated within a crumple zone towards the rear end of the vehicle, suchas in or under the boot (i.e. trunk).

Optionally, the first direction is laterally across the width of thevehicle. The first end face of the battery cell container may bepositioned within a crumple zone at a left side or a right side of thevehicle.

Optionally, the stiffness of the at least one battery cell containercompared to the stiffness of the first supporting structure issufficient to enable the first supporting structure to be deformed bycompression between an applied force and a reaction force provided bythe at least one battery cell container. The battery cell container mayassist in providing a required reaction force to maintain the generalposition of the first support structure during a time when it crumplesduring a collision, without the battery cell container being deformeditself and damaging battery cells it contains.

Optionally, stiffness of the at least one battery cell containercompared to the stiffness of the first supporting structure issufficiently large to enable the first supporting structure to bedeformed under a force provided by the at least one battery cellcontainer due to a force applied to the second end of the at least onebattery cell container. In some embodiments, if the battery mountingarrangement is used in a vehicle, the battery cell container providesprotection for battery cells located within it, in the event of acollision in which a force is applied to the second end face. Thisenables the second end face to be located within a crumple zone of thevehicle, and so the spatial volume of the battery and its electricalstorage capacity may be larger than they otherwise could be. Forexample, in embodiments in which the battery cell container extendsbetween support structures comprising sills of the vehicle, the batterymay have a width across the vehicle that is wider than it otherwisecould be.

Optionally, the stiffness of the at least one battery cell containercompared to the stiffness of the second supporting structure issufficient to enable the second supporting structure to be deformed bycompression between an applied force and a reaction force provided bythe at least one battery cell container. The battery cell container mayassist in providing a required reaction force to maintain the generalposition of the second support structure during a time when it crumplesduring a collision, without the battery cell container being deformeditself and damaging battery cells it contains.

Optionally, the first supporting structure comprises a first beam of thevehicle.

Optionally, the battery mounting arrangement comprises a support platesupported by the first beam; the at least one battery cell container ismounted to the support plate; and a first portion of the support plateforms a part of the first supporting structure.

Optionally, the second supporting structure comprises a second beam ofthe vehicle.

Optionally, the support plate is supported by the second beam, and asecond portion of the support plate forms a part of the secondsupporting structure.

Optionally, the at least one battery cell container has a length, aheight and a width; the length is longer than the height and the width;and the length is aligned laterally across the vehicle.

Optionally, the at least one battery cell container contains a pluralityof cells forming at least a part of a battery.

Optionally, the at least one battery cell container comprises a tube.The battery cell container is strong in compression along its length.

Optionally, the tube has a rectangular cross-section. A plurality ofbattery cell containers may be positioned alongside one another to forma compact unit.

Optionally, the tube comprises a battery cooling pipe and/or anelectrical conductor that extends from the first end and/or the secondend of the tube. The side walls of the tube may be continuous andtherefore the strength of the tube under compression along its length isnot compromised.

Optionally, the battery mounting arrangement comprises a connectingmember; a lower surface of each said battery cell container is attachedto the support plate; and an upper surface of each said battery cellcontainer is fixed to the connecting member, which is configured toresist separation of each said battery cell container from a neighboringbattery cell container. The unit formed by the battery cell containersis provided with greater rigidity.

According to another aspect of the disclosure there is provided avehicle comprising the battery mounting arrangement of any one of theprevious paragraphs, wherein the vehicle comprises an electric motorpowered by battery cells located within the at least one battery cellcontainer.

Optionally, the vehicle comprises a cabin for receiving users of thevehicle and the cabin has a floor defining a tunnel extending along themiddle of the floor in a direction from front to rear of the vehicle.The body of the vehicle may be one that is already used to produce avehicle powered by an internal combustion engine rather than theelectric motor, and therefore the cost in establishing production of abattery electric vehicle may be much reduced.

According to a further aspect of the disclosure there is provided abattery mounting arrangement for a vehicle comprising: a firstsupporting structure extending along the vehicle; a second supportingstructure extending along the vehicle; and at least one tube forcontaining battery cells, wherein each said tube has a first endadjacent to, and supported by, the first supporting structure and asecond end adjacent to, and supported by the second supportingstructure, and the at least one tube has an axial stiffness greater thana lateral stiffness of each of the first supporting structure and thesecond supporting structure. If the battery mounting arrangement is usedin a vehicle, the tube provides protection for battery cells locatedwithin it, in the event of a collision in which a force is applied tothe first end. This enables the first end to be located within a crumplezone of the vehicle, and so the spatial volume of the battery and itselectrical storage capacity may be larger than they otherwise could be.In addition, because the battery mounting arrangement provides therequired protection to the battery cells, it may be used to produce abattery electric vehicle from a vehicle body designed for use in avehicle powered by an internal combustion engine.

According to yet another aspect of the disclosure there is provided abattery mounting arrangement for a vehicle comprising: a firstsupporting structure extending along the vehicle; a second supportingstructure extending along the vehicle; and a plurality of tubes alignedlaterally across the vehicle, each said tube having a first end adjacentto, and supported by, the first supporting structure and a second endadjacent to, and supported by, the second supporting structure; and aplurality of battery cells located in each one of the tubes. If thebattery mounting arrangement is used in a vehicle, the tube providesprotection for battery cells located within it, in the event of acollision in which a force is applied to the first end. This enables thefirst end to be located within a crumple zone of the vehicle, and so thespatial volume of the battery and its electrical storage capacity may belarger than they otherwise could be. In addition, because the batterymounting arrangement provides the required protection to the batterycells, it may be used to produce a battery electric vehicle from avehicle body designed for use in a vehicle powered by an internalcombustion engine.

Within the scope of this application it is expressly intended that thevarious aspects, embodiments, examples and alternatives set out in thepreceding paragraphs, in the following description and drawings, and theindividual features thereof, may be taken independently or in anycombination. That is, all embodiments and/or features of any embodimentcan be combined in any way and/or combination, unless such features areincompatible. The applicant reserves the right to change any originallyfiled claim or file any new claim accordingly, including the right toamend any originally filed claim to depend from and/or incorporate anyfeature of any other claim although not originally claimed in thatmanner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

One or more embodiments of the disclosure will now be described, by wayof example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a battery electric vehiclecomprising a battery mounting arrangement embodying the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 2 shows the battery mounting arrangement of FIG. 1 during acollision with a post 201;

FIG. 3 shows the battery mounting arrangement of FIG. 1 after acollision with a post 201;

FIG. 4 shows a side view of a vehicle embodying the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 shows a plan view of the vehicle of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of a portion of the battery on itssupport plate;

FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view of the vehicle of FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 shows a cross-sectional view of the vehicle of FIG. 4 after aside-on collision with a post;

FIG. 9 shows a plan view of the vehicle of FIG. 4 after the side-oncollision with the post;

FIG. 10 shows a plan view of another battery electric vehicle embodyingthe present disclosure is shown under the floor of the rear luggagecompartment

FIG. 11 shows a side view of the vehicle of FIG. 10; and

FIG. 12 shows a plan view of a further alternative vehicle embodying thepresent disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A battery mounting arrangement 101 for a vehicle, and a vehicle 100comprising a battery mounting arrangement 101 in accordance with anembodiment of the present disclosure, is described herein with referenceto the accompanying FIGS. 1 to 3.

With reference to FIG. 1, the battery mounting arrangement 101 comprisesa first supporting structure 102, a second supporting structure 103, anda battery cell container 104 supported by both the first supportingstructure 102 and the second supporting structure 103.

The first supporting structure 102 comprises a first beam 105 (extendinginto the page in FIG. 1) that forms a part of the body 116 of thevehicle 100 and similarly the second supporting structure 103 comprisesa second beam 106 (also extending into the page in FIG. 1) that forms apart of the body 116 of the vehicle 100.

The battery cell container 104 has a first end face 107 that faces thefirst beam 105 and a second end face 108 that faces the second beam 106.The battery cell container 104 is in the form of a tube having outerwalls, such as outer walls 109 and 110, that define a volume 111 forcontaining battery cells 112.

In the present embodiment, the battery cell container 104 is mounted ona support plate 113 that is attached to the first beam 105 at, oradjacent to, a first edge 114 of the support plate 113. The supportplate 113 is also attached to the second beam 106 at, or adjacent to, asecond edge 115 of the support plate 113. The battery cell container 104is attached to the support plate 113 at, or adjacent to, each of its endfaces 107 and 108. The battery cell container 104 extends in a directionfrom the first beam 105 to the second beam 106. In the presentembodiment, the battery cell container 104 is shorter than the distancebetween the two beams 105 and 106, so that a gap exists between each ofthe beams 105 and 106 and the end face 107, 108 that faces the beam. Aportion of the support plate 113 connecting the first beam 105 and thebattery cell container 104 therefore provides a part of the firstsupport structure 102, and similarly a portion of the support plate 113connecting the second beam 106 and the battery cell container 104provides a part of the second support structure 103.

In the present embodiment the support plate 113 extends across the wholelength of the battery cell containers 104 but in alternative embodimentsa first support plate 113 may support one end of the battery cellcontainer 104 and a second support plate 113 may support its oppositeend.

In embodiments illustrated in the present specification, the batterycell container 104 is mounted in a relatively low position within thevehicle 100, such as below a floor panel (not shown in FIG. 1) and thebattery cell container 104 is mounted above the support plate 113.However, in alternative embodiments the battery cell container 104 maybe mounted in a relatively high position within the vehicle 100 and/orbelow the support plate 113.

The body 116 of the vehicle 100 defines a space 117 configured toreceive one or more people and/or cargo to enable transportation by thevehicle 100. The supporting structures 102 and 103 form parts of a rigidframe 118 that supports other parts of the body 116 of the vehicle 100and also provides protection to people and/or cargo carried by thevehicle 100. The supporting structures 102 and 103 are configured toresist intrusion into the space 117 when the vehicle 100 collides withanother object, in order to provide protection to the users of thevehicle 100 and/or its cargo. However, in order to reduce the magnitudeof sudden increases in acceleration that the users and/or cargo aresubjected to during such a collision, the support structures 102 and 103are configured to crumple. Thus, much of the energy of the vehicle 100and/or the object with which it collides is used to deform one or bothof the support structures 102 and 103.

For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the first support structure 102 isshown in a deformed state during an impact of the vehicle 100 against apost 201. A portion of the support plate 113 between the first beam 105and the battery cell container 104 has crumpled so that the beam 105 ispressed against the first end face 107 of the battery cell container104. Under an applied force along its length, the battery cell container104 is relatively stiff when compared to the lateral stiffness of thefirst beam 105. Consequently, the beam 105 has also begun to be squashedbetween the post 201 and the first end face 107 of the battery cellcontainer 104. I.e.

the first supporting structure 102 has been deformed by compressionbetween a force applied by the post 201 and a reaction force provided bythe battery cell container 104.

As the collision progresses, the battery cell container 104 moves closerto the post 201 by further deformation of the first support structure102. The post 201 then applies greater force to the first end face 107of the battery cell container 104 via the first support structure 102.The battery cell container 104 is then pushed along its length towardsthe second beam 106, during which process a portion of the support plate113 between the second end face 108 of the battery cell container 104and the second beam 106 is crumpled. The battery cell container 104 isrelatively stiff when compared to the lateral stiffness of the secondbeam 106, and consequently, the second beam 106 becomes deformed underforces applied by the battery cell container 104, as illustrated in FIG.3, rather than the battery cell container 104 itself becoming deformed.Thus, the battery cells 112 within the battery cell container 104 arekept intact during the collision.

In at least some embodiments, such as that described below withreference to FIGS. 4 to 9, the battery mounting arrangement issubstantially symmetrical and may comprise several battery cellcontainers 104. It should therefore be understood that in suchembodiments the stiffness of the battery cell container(s) 104 comparedto the stiffness of the first supporting structure 102 is sufficientlylarge to enable the first supporting structure 102 to be deformed undera force provided by the battery cell container(s) 104 due to a forceapplied to the second end face 108 of the battery cell container(s) 104.Also, the second supporting structure 103 is configured to deform bycompression between a force applied to the second supporting structure103 (for example by a post 201) and a reaction force provided by thesecond end face 108 of the battery cell container(s) 104.

A vehicle 100 embodying the present disclosure is shown in a side viewin FIG. 4, a plan view in FIG. 5 and a cross-sectional view in FIG. 7.The vehicle 100 is also shown after a collision with a post 201 in across-sectional rear view in FIG. 8 and a plan view in FIG. 9. Many ofthe features of the vehicle 100 of FIGS. 4, 5, 7, 8 and 9 are in commonwith those of the vehicle 100 of FIG. 1 and where appropriate they havebeen provided with similar references.

In the present embodiment the vehicle 100 is a car 100 but inalternative embodiments, the vehicle 100 may be another type of roadvehicle 100 such as a van or a bus. The car 100 has an electric motor401 (shown in FIGS. 4 and 5) positioned towards the front end of thecar. The motor 401 provides torque to road wheels 402. In the presentembodiment, the car 100 is a front wheel drive vehicle but inalternative embodiments the vehicle is a rear wheel drive vehicle. Inother alternative embodiments, the vehicle 100 is a four-wheel drivevehicle and a second electric motor may be integrated with a rear axleof the vehicle to provide torque to the rear wheels 402.

The body 116 of the car 100 includes a cabin 404 for receiving thedriver and/or the passengers of the vehicle 100, and the cabin 404 has afloor panel 405. To provide the necessary power to the motor 401, thecar 100 comprises an electric battery 403 that is located below thefloor panel 405. The battery 403 comprises many electric battery cells(112 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7) that are electrically connected to provideelectrical power to the motor 401. The battery cells are divided into aplurality of different sets and each of the sets is located in arespective one of a plurality of battery cell containers 104. In theexample illustrated by FIGS. 4 and 5, the vehicle 100 has 13 batterycell containers 104 each containing a set of the battery cells formingthe battery 403. Each of the battery cell containers 104 is in the formof a tube having a rectangular cross-section as illustrated in FIG. 4,and is mounted on a support plate 113 that extends across the bottom ofthe body 116 of the car 100. Each of the battery cell containers 104extends laterally across the width of the car 100 in a direction from afirst support structure 102, comprising a first beam 105, to a secondsupport structure 103, comprising a second beam 106. In the presentembodiment, the first beam 105 is in the form of a first sill 105 thatextends along the right side of the car 100 and the second beam 106 isin the form of a second sill 106 that extends along the left side of thecar 100.

The support plate 113 is fixed to each of the two sills 105 and 106 by aplurality of bolts (not shown). In the present embodiment, the supportplate 113 is provided with a box-section 701 alongside each of itsopposing edges 114 and 115 and the box-sections 701 are bolted to thesills 105 and 106.

It may be noted that the sills 105 and 106 of the vehicle 100 of FIG. 7are designed to crumple in the event of a side impact on the vehicle 100but also to resist penetration into the cabin 404 in order to providesafety to the occupants of the cabin. Specifically, the sills 105 and106 are designed to prevent a standard sized post (201 in FIGS. 8 and 9)penetrating more than a specified first distance 702 (shown in FIG. 7)from the outside surface 703 of the vehicle 100 when the side of thevehicle collides with the post 201 at a specified speed. The battery 403extends laterally across the vehicle 100 up to a second distance 704from the outside surface 703 that is smaller than the first distance702. However, due to the nature of the battery mounting arrangement 101,the battery cells 112 are protected from damage during a side impact inwhich a post penetrates by the first distance 702 into the cabin 404. Byenabling the battery 403 to extend closer to the outside surface 703 ofthe vehicle 100, the battery mounting arrangement 101 allows the battery403 is able to have a greater storage capacity than it otherwise wouldhave.

A perspective view of a portion of the battery 403 on its support plate113 is shown in FIG. 6. In this figure, portions of several of thebattery cell containers 104 including their first end faces 107 areshown. It may be noted that, in the present embodiment, the battery cellcontainers 104 are substantially symmetrical so that the portions of thebattery cell containers 104 that include their second end faces 108 aresubstantially the same as the portions shown in FIG. 6.

The battery cell containers 104 each include an attachment part 601configured to enable attachment of the battery cell container 104 to thesupport plate 113. In the present embodiment, the attachment parts 601are an extension of the lower wall 110 of the tubes 104 that areprovided with holes (not shown) to enable the battery cell containers104 to be fixed to the support plate 113 by bolts 602. Each of thebattery cell containers 104 has a length, that is longer than its heightand its width, and the length is aligned laterally across the vehicle100.

Conductors 608 that are electrically connected to the battery cells 112extend from the ends of the tubes 104 to enable connection to the motor401. The tubes 104 may also be provided with cooling pipes 609 whichextend from the ends of the tubes 104 to enable connection to acooling-fluid circuit.

A connecting member 603 extends perpendicularly to the lengths of thebattery cell containers 104 and is fixed to each the upper walls 109 ofthe battery cell containers 104 by bolts 604. The connecting member 603shown in FIG. 6 is positioned near to the first end faces 107 of thebattery cell containers 104, and a second connecting member (not shown),similar to the connecting member 603, is similarly positioned near tothe second end faces 108.

The connecting member 603 prevents the upper wall 109 of each batterycell container 104 separating from the upper wall 109 of itsneighbouring battery cell container(s) 104 in the event of the vehicle100 having a collision that deforms the support plate 113. I.e.sidewalls of the battery cell containers 104, such as sidewalls 605 and606, extend parallel to each other, and the connecting member 603prevents a non-zero angle opening up between the sidewalls. This allowsfor assisting the distribution to neighbouring battery cell containers104 of a force applied to an end face 107 or 108 of one of the batterycell containers 104 during a collision.

Positions of battery cells 112 are shown in FIG. 6 in one of the batterycell containers 104, but it should be understood that each of thebattery cell containers 104 contains battery cells 112 in a similarmanner In the present embodiment, the battery cells 112 have acylindrical shape with a circular end face 607 that is in a planeparallel to the sidewalls of the battery cell containers 104, but inother embodiments, the orientation of the cells 112 may differ fromthis. In further embodiments the cells are prismatic or pouch cells invarious orientations. As mentioned above, the battery cell containers104 are in the form of a tube with a rectangular cross-section and, inan embodiment, the tube comprises two U-shaped channels welded togetheralong their length.

The car 100 is shown after a side impact against a rigid post 201 in arear cross-sectional view in FIG. 8 and a plan view in FIG. 9. In thesefigures, the floor panel 405 (shown in FIG. 8), the support plate 113and the first sill 105 have crumpled. It may be noted that the post 201impacts against the first sill 105 over a small portion of the length ofthe car 100 that corresponds to the width of just a few of the batterycell containers 104. However, due to the battery cell containers 104being connected via the support plate 113 and the connecting member 603,the battery cell containers 104 are more easily able to provide areactive force to enable the first sill 105 to be crumpled between thepost 201 and the first end face 107 of the battery cell containers 104.After the collapse of the first sill 105, force applied by the post 201to the battery cell containers 104 via the first sill 105 causes thebattery cell containers 104 to be pushed along their length relative tothe body 116 of the car 100. This movement of the battery cellcontainers 104 causes deformation of the second support structure 103.Specifically, it causes deformation of the portion of the support plate113 between the second end face 108 of the battery cell containers 104and the second sill 106, and it also causes deformation of the secondsill 106. However, it may be noted that, because the battery cellcontainers 104 are all attached to the support plate 113, the force tothe battery cell containers 104 is distributed to many of the batterycell containers 104, and not just the few that are directly impactedupon by the post 201.

Because the lateral stiffness of the second sill 106 is relatively smallcompared to the longitudinal stiffness of the battery cell containers104, the battery cell containers 104 are able to be pushed sidewaysacross the car 101 and remain intact as the second sill 106 deforms.Consequently, the battery cells 112 are undamaged by the collision.

In the present example, even though the car 100 is a battery electricvehicle, its body 116 is the same type as is used to produce vehiclescomprising an internal combustion engine. As a consequence, the floorpanel 405 has a form that includes a tunnel 801 (shown in FIGS. 7 and 8)to enable it to accommodate a transmission system for providing rearwheel drive and/or an exhaust system associated with an internalcombustion engine. During the collision illustrated in FIG. 8, thetunnel 801 may become deformed. However, the battery 403 does not relyon the structural integrity of the floor panel 405 to protect it duringthe collision. Instead, the battery mounting arrangement 101, in whichthe battery cells 112 are located within tubes 104 extending between thesills 105 and 106, provides the required protection for the cells 112 ofthe battery 403. I.e. the battery mounting arrangement 101 allows avehicle body 116 to be used for the manufacture of a battery electricvehicle that is not specifically designed for a battery electricvehicle.

In addition, because the floor panel 405 is not required to support andprotect the battery 403, the floor panel 405 may be made with arelatively light mass, and this also allows the body 116 to remainusable for the production of an energy efficient car 100 with aninternal combustion engine.

Another battery electric vehicle 100 embodying the present disclosure isshown in plan view in FIG. 10 and the side view of FIG. 11. Many of thefeatures of the vehicle 100 of FIGS. 10 and 11 are in common with thoseof the vehicle 100 of FIG. 4 and they have been provided with similarreferences. Thus, for example, the vehicle 100 of FIGS. 10 and 11comprises an electric motor 401 mounted within the body 116 of thevehicle 100 between the front road wheels 402. It also comprises abattery 403 which may have a form as described above with reference toFIGS. 4 to 9. However, in order to provide the vehicle 100 with furtherelectrical storage capacity, it also comprises a second battery 403Alocated beneath the floor 1102 (shown in FIG. 11) of the boot 1101 ofthe vehicle 100, between its rear road wheels 402. The battery 403A hasa similar construction to the battery 403, in that it comprises sets ofbattery cells (not shown), each set being located in one of a pluralityof battery cell containers 104. In the present embodiment the battery403A comprises 5 battery cell containers 104.

The battery cell containers 104 of the battery 403 are supported on asupport plate 113A attached to a first support structure 102A comprisinga first beam 105A and a second support structure 103A comprising asecond beam 106A. The first beam 105A and the second beam 106A may forma part of the frame 118 of the vehicle 100.

The mounting arrangement 101A of the battery 403A differs from that ofbattery 403 in that the beams 105A and 106A extend laterally across thevehicle 100 and the battery cell containers 104 are in the form of tubesthat extend in a direction along the length of the vehicle 100.

The first beam 105A extends across the rear end of the vehicle 100. Inthe event of an impact, for example when another vehicle hits the rearend of the vehicle 100 of FIG. 10, the first beam 105A and a portion ofthe support plate 113 between the first beam 105A and the battery cellcontainers 104 are deformed and pushed against the first ends 107 of thebattery cell containers 104 of the battery 403A. The battery cellcontainers 104 are consequently pushed forward and their second endfaces 108 press against the second beam 106A. The second beam 106A has alateral stiffness that is small compared to the longitudinal stiffnessof the battery cell containers 104 and therefore it is deformed insteadof the battery cell containers 104 becoming deformed. Consequently, thebattery cells contained by the battery cell containers 104 remainintact.

In this way the battery cells of the battery 403A may be located belowthe boot 1101 of the vehicle 100 at a position where the boot 1101 maybe expected to be penetrated by the first beam 105A during an impact onthe rear end of the vehicle 100. However, the battery mountingarrangement provides protection for the cells of the battery 403A bylocating them in battery cell containers 104 having a first end face 107facing the first supporting structure 102A and a second end face 108facing the second supporting structure 103A, in which the stiffness ofthe battery cell containers 104 compared to the stiffness of the secondsupporting structure 103A is sufficiently large to enable the secondsupporting structure 103A to be deformed under a force provided by thebattery cell containers 104 due to a force applied to the first endfaces 107 of the battery cell containers 104.

A further alternative vehicle 100 embodying the present disclosure isshown in plan view in FIG. 12. Many of the features of the vehicle 100of FIG. 12 are in common with those of the vehicle 100 of FIGS. 4, 5 and7, and they have been provided with similar references. Thus, forexample, the vehicle 100 of FIG. 12 comprises an electric motor 401mounted within the body 116 of the vehicle 100 between the front roadwheels 402 and within a compartment 1201. It also comprises a battery403 which may have a form as described above with reference to FIGS. 4to 9. However, in order to provide the vehicle 100 with furtherelectrical storage capacity, it also comprises a second battery 403Blocated in the compartment 1201 containing the electric motor 401. Inthe present embodiment, the second battery 403B is located directlyabove the motor 401.

The battery 403B has a similar construction to the battery 403, in thatit comprises sets of battery cells (not shown), each set being locatedin one of a plurality of battery cell containers 104. In the presentembodiment the battery 403B comprises 4 battery cell containers 104.

Like those of the battery 403, the battery cell containers 104 of thebattery 403B are supported at one end by a first support structure 102Bcomprising a first beam 105B and at a second end by a second supportstructure 103B comprising a second beam 106B, so that the first end face107 faces the first beam 105B and the second end face 108 faces thesecond beam 106B. In the present embodiment, the first beam 105B extendslaterally across the front end of the vehicle 100, the second beam 106Bextends laterally across the vehicle 100 to the rear of the battery403B, and the battery cell containers 104 are fixed to a support plate113B that is supported by the two beams 105B and 106B.

The battery cell containers 104 are in the form of tubes that extend ina direction along the length of the vehicle 100 in a direction from thefirst beam 105B to the second beam 106B.

In the event of an impact on the front of the vehicle 100, for examplewhen another vehicle collides with the front the vehicle 100 of FIG. 12,or the vehicle 100 hits a structure such as a post or a wall, the firstbeam 105B and a portion of the support plate 113B between the beam 105Band the battery cell containers 104 are deformed and push against thefirst ends 107 of the battery cell containers 104 of the battery 403B.The battery cell containers 104 are consequently pushed backwards andtheir second end faces 108 press against the second beam 106B. Thesecond beam 106B has a lateral stiffness that is small compared to thelongitudinal stiffness of the battery cell containers 104 and thereforeit is deformed rather than the battery cell containers 104 becomingdeformed. Consequently, the battery cells contained within the batterycell containers 104 remain intact.

In this way the battery cells of the battery 403B may be located in acompartment 1201 of the vehicle 100 containing its motor 401 at aposition where the battery 403B may be subjected to an impact during afront-end collision of the vehicle 100. In such a collision, the batterymounting arrangement provides protection for the cells of the battery403B by locating them in battery cell containers 104 having a first endface 107 facing the first supporting structure 102B and a second endface 108 facing the second supporting structure 103B, in which thestiffness of the battery cell containers 104 compared to the stiffnessof the second supporting structure 103B is sufficiently large to enablethe second supporting structure 103B to be deformed under a forceapplied by the battery cell containers 104 due to a force applied to thefirst end faces 107 of the battery cell containers 104.

In a further alternative embodiment, a vehicle 100 comprises the battery403 located under the floor panel 403, as described with reference toFIGS. 4 to 9, the battery 403A located under the boot floor panel 1102,as described with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11 and the battery 403Blocated in a frontmost compartment 1201 of the vehicle 100, as describedwith reference to FIG. 12.

It will be appreciated that various changes and modifications can bemade to the present disclosure without departing from the scope of thepresent application.

Although embodiments of the present v have been described in thepreceding paragraphs with reference to various examples, it should beappreciated that modifications to the examples given can be made withoutdeparting from the scope of the disclosure as claimed. For example, inthe illustrated embodiments, each battery cell container 104 within abattery 403 is shown as having the same length as other battery cellcontainers 104 in that battery 403. However, in alternative embodimentsthe length of one or more battery cell containers 104 within a batterymay differ from the lengths of other battery cell containers 104 in thatbattery. This may enable the use of space available for containing thebattery to be maximized.

Also, in the above described examples, the battery 403 comprises asingle layer of battery cell containers 104, but in alternativeembodiments the battery 403 comprises two or more layers of battery cellcontainers 104, one layer being positioned above another layer and eachlayer comprising one or more battery cell containers 104. In some suchembodiments, each layer may be similarly configured to the other one ormore layers, but alternatively the number of battery cell containers 104may vary from one layer to the next layer, for example to maximize theuse of space that is available for containing the battery 403. Forexample, a battery 403 located under the floor 405 may comprises manybattery cell containers 104 in a first layer, similar to thatillustrated in FIG. 5, and a second layer on top of the first layer,positioned under the seats where more space is available. In embodimentsin which a vehicle 100 comprises a battery 403 under the floor 405 and asecond battery 403A in, or under, the boot 1101 or a second battery 403Bin the front compartment 1201, the number of layers of battery cellcontainers 104 in the battery 403 under the floor 405 may differ fromthe number of layers forming the second battery 403A or 403B. Forexample, a battery 403B comprising several layers of battery cellcontainers 104 may fit conveniently within the front compartment 1201,which contains the motor 401, while a battery 403 under the floor 405may only comprise a single layer of battery cell containers 104.

Features described in the preceding description may be used incombinations other than the combinations explicitly described.

Although functions have been described with reference to certainfeatures, those functions may be performable by other features whetherdescribed or not.

Although features have been described with reference to certainembodiments, those features may also be present in other embodimentswhether described or not.

Whilst endeavoring in the foregoing specification to draw attention tothose features of the disclosure believed to be of particular importanceit should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respectof any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbeforereferred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particularemphasis has been placed thereon.

The Figures show example configurations with relative positioning of thevarious components. If shown directly contacting each other, or directlycoupled, then such elements may be referred to as directly contacting ordirectly coupled, respectively, at least in one example. Similarly,elements shown contiguous or adjacent to one another may be contiguousor adjacent to each other, respectively, at least in one example. As anexample, components laying in face-sharing contact with each other maybe referred to as in face-sharing contact. As another example, elementspositioned apart from each other with only a space there-between and noother components may be referred to as such, in at least one example. Asyet another example, elements shown above/below one another, at oppositesides to one another, or to the left/right of one another may bereferred to as such, relative to one another. Further, as shown in thefigures, a topmost element or point of element may be referred to as a“top” of the component and a bottommost element or point of the elementmay be referred to as a “bottom” of the component, in at least oneexample. As used herein, top/bottom, upper/lower, above/below, may berelative to a vertical axis of the figures and used to describepositioning of elements of the figures relative to one another. As such,elements shown above other elements are positioned vertically above theother elements, in one example. As yet another example, shapes of theelements depicted within the figures may be referred to as having thoseshapes (e.g., such as being circular, straight, planar, curved, rounded,chamfered, angled, or the like). Further, elements shown intersectingone another may be referred to as intersecting elements or intersectingone another, in at least one example. Further still, an element shownwithin another element or shown outside of another element may bereferred as such, in one example.

The following claims particularly point out certain combinations andsub-combinations regarded as novel and non-obvious. These claims mayrefer to “an” element or “a first” element or the equivalent thereof.Such claims should be understood to include incorporation of one or moresuch elements, neither requiring nor excluding two or more suchelements. Other combinations and sub-combinations of the disclosedfeatures, functions, elements, and/or properties may be claimed throughamendment of the present claims or through presentation of new claims inthis or a related application. Such claims, whether broader, narrower,equal, or different in scope to the original claims, also are regardedas included within the subject matter of the present disclosure.

1. A battery mounting arrangement for a vehicle comprising: a firstsupporting structure; a second supporting structure; and at least onebattery cell container supported by both the first supporting structureand the second supporting structure, and the at least one battery cellcontainer having a first end face facing the first supporting structureand a second end face facing the second supporting structure; whereinstiffness of the at least one battery cell container compared to thestiffness of the second supporting structure is sufficiently large toenable the second supporting structure to be deformed under a forceprovided by the at least one battery cell container due to a forceapplied to the first end face of the at least one battery cellcontainer.
 2. The battery mounting arrangement according to claim 1,wherein the first supporting structure extends in a first direction, thesecond supporting structure extends substantially parallel to the firstsupporting structure, and the at least one battery cell containerextends in a direction from its first end face to its second end face ina second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction.3. The battery mounting arrangement according to claim 2, wherein thefirst direction is along a length of the vehicle or wherein the firstdirection is laterally across a width of the vehicle.
 4. The batterymounting arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the stiffness of theat least one battery cell container compared to the stiffness of thefirst supporting structure is sufficient to enable the first supportingstructure to be deformed by compression between an applied force and areaction force provided by the at least one battery cell container. 5.The battery mounting arrangement according to claim 1, wherein stiffnessof the at least one battery cell container compared to the stiffness ofthe first supporting structure is sufficiently large to enable the firstsupporting structure to be deformed under the force provided by the atleast one battery cell container due to a force applied to the secondend face of the at least one battery cell container.
 6. The batterymounting arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the stiffness of theat least one battery cell container compared to the stiffness of thesecond supporting structure is sufficient to enable the secondsupporting structure to be deformed by compression between an appliedforce and a reaction force provided by the at least one battery cellcontainer.
 7. The battery mounting arrangement according to claim 1,wherein the first supporting structure comprises a first beam of thevehicle and wherein the battery mounting arrangement comprises a supportplate supported by the first beam; the at least one battery cellcontainer is mounted to the support plate; and a first portion of thesupport plate forms a part of the first supporting structure.
 8. Thebattery mounting arrangement according to claim 7, wherein the secondsupporting structure comprises a second beam of the vehicle.
 9. Thebattery mounting arrangement according to claim 8, wherein the supportplate is supported by the second beam, and a second portion of thesupport plate forms a part of the second supporting structure.
 10. Thebattery mounting arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the at leastone battery cell container has a length, a height and a width; thelength is longer than the height and the width; and the length isaligned laterally across the vehicle.
 11. The battery mountingarrangement according to claim 1, wherein the at least one battery cellcontainer comprises a tube and optionally wherein the tube has arectangular cross-section.
 12. The battery mounting arrangementaccording to claim 11, wherein the tube comprises a battery cooling pipeand/or an electrical conductor that extends from the first end faceand/or the second end face of the tube.
 13. The battery mountingarrangement according to claim 1, wherein the battery mountingarrangement comprises a connecting member; a lower surface of each saidbattery cell container is attached to a support plate; and an uppersurface of each said battery cell container is fixed to the connectingmember, which is configured to resist separation of each said batterycell container from a neighboring battery cell container.
 14. Thevehicle comprising the battery mounting arrangement of claim 1, whereinthe vehicle comprises: an electric motor powered by battery cellslocated within the at least one battery cell container and optionallywherein the vehicle comprises a cabin for receiving users of the vehicleand the cabin has a floor defining a tunnel extending along the middleof the floor in a direction from front to rear of the vehicle.
 15. Abattery mounting arrangement for a vehicle comprising: a firstsupporting structure extending along the vehicle; a second supportingstructure extending along the vehicle; and a plurality of tubes alignedlaterally across the vehicle, each said tube having a first end faceadjacent to, and supported by, the first supporting structure and asecond end face adjacent to, and supported by, the second supportingstructure; and a plurality of battery cells located in each one of theplurality of tubes.